Emergency Contact Sheet

We created a pet Emergency Contact Sheet for you - just make sure you update at least yearly.

When emergencies happen, even the most prepared pet owners can become overwhelmed. Fires, severe weather, car accidents, medical emergencies, or evacuations often happen fast — and in those moments, having accurate, up-to-date information about your pet can make a major difference.

An emergency contact sheet gives first responders, veterinarians, pet sitters, family members, and neighbors quick access to critical details like medical conditions, medications, allergies, behavior concerns, emergency contacts, and veterinary information. Without that information, valuable time can be lost trying to piece together care instructions during an already stressful situation.

One detail that is often overlooked is including a current photo of the pet. Even better is a photo of the owner with the pet together. If pets and owners become separated during an emergency, that photo can help responders, shelters, veterinary staff, or neighbors quickly confirm ownership and identify the correct animal. This is especially important for pets that may look similar to others of the same breed or color.

It is also important that this information is stored in multiple easy-to-access locations. A printed copy should be kept in a pet emergency “go bag” alongside medications, food, leashes, carriers, and vaccination records. Another copy should be saved digitally on a phone or cloud drive for quick access away from home. Many emergency preparedness professionals also recommend keeping a copy on or near the refrigerator or another highly visible location inside the home, where first responders, neighbors, or family members can easily find it during an emergency.

Keeping this information updated is just as important as creating it in the first place. Phone numbers change. Medications change. Pets age. Emergency contacts move. A contact sheet that hasn’t been reviewed in years may not help when it matters most.

Preparedness is not about expecting the worst. It is about reducing confusion, improving response time, and giving your pet the best possible chance of getting safe, appropriate care when situations become unpredictable.